Introduction
The Lord’s Prayer—also known by its opening words “Our Father”—is a central Christian prayer attributed to Jesus and recorded in two forms in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Matthew’s longer version (Matthew 6:9–13) addresses God’s holiness, provision, and protection, concluding with a doxology in many liturgical traditions. Albert Hay Malotte, an American composer, first set the prayer to music in 1935, crafting a melodic hymn that has been embraced in worship services ever since.
Johnny Mathis brought his lush vocal style to “The Lord’s Prayer” when he recorded it on September 23, 1969, as part of his holiday album Give Me Your Love for Christmas. Produced by Jack Gold and arranged by Ernie Freeman, the album topped Billboard’s Christmas Albums chart in 1969, with Mathis’s spiritual offerings resonating deeply with audiences that holiday season. In 1980, Mathis revisited the hymn alongside Gladys Knight & the Pips, releasing it as the B-side to his single “When a Child Is Born,” capturing yet another dimension of communal faith and musical partnership.
Listening to Mathis’s “The Lord’s Prayer” feels like a private moment of contemplation. His gentle phrasing and intimate delivery transport you to candlelit gatherings, evoking the comfort of shared belief and the universal yearning for guidance. Whether experienced during the Christmas season or any quiet moment, the track stands as a testament to music’s power to elevate sacred text into a personal embrace.
Video
Lyrics
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors;
(As we forgive our debtors!)
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory, forever!
Amen